Shloka 263
धर्मरहस्योपदेशः
Dharma-rahasya Instruction: Vows, Truth, and Non-injury
अत्र यन्मन्यसे प्राप्तं तच्छीघ्रं सम्प्रधारय । “यदि भीमसेन मारे गये अथवा रथहीन कर दिये गये तो अर्जुन अवश्य मुझपर आक्रमण करेंगे
atra yan manyase prāptaṃ tac chīghraṃ sampradhāraya | yadi bhīmasena māre gataḥ athavā rathahīnaḥ kṛto 'bhavat tarhi arjunaḥ avaśyaṃ mayi ākramaṇaṃ kariṣyati, yat mama adhikaṃ śreyaḥ bhaviṣyati | tvaṃ yat iha ucitaṃ manyase tat śīghraṃ niścitya vada ||
Sañjaya dit : «Considère sur-le-champ ce que tu tiens ici pour la conduite juste. Car si Bhimasena est tué, ou même seulement privé de son char, Arjuna se jettera à coup sûr sur moi—et, pour ma part, ce serait l’issue la meilleure. Décide donc vite et dis-moi ce que tu juges convenable en cette situation.»
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
In the pressure of war, one must quickly discern the most fitting course (ucita) by weighing consequences; even painful outcomes are evaluated through the lens of duty and strategic necessity, showing how dharma in battle often involves rapid, responsible decision-making.
Sanjaya reports a speaker urging swift deliberation: if Bhima is killed or made chariotless, Arjuna will inevitably retaliate by attacking the speaker; the speaker considers that confrontation preferable and asks for an immediate decision on what should be done.